Madlanga Commission Finds Shadrack Sibiya Overstepped Authority in KZN Political Killing Docket Transfer

Testimony Highlights

During a packed session in Pretoria, the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry heard that Shadrack Sibiya ordered the transfer of 121 case files from the KwaZulu‑Natal political killings task team (PKTT) to the national police headquarters. The move effectively froze the province’s investigations into a string of politically motivated murders.

Major‑General Petronella van Rooyen, who leads SAPS’s legal division, told the panel that Sibiya acted without consulting KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. "It creates a situation where the provincial commission is accountable for matters it does not even know about," she said, adding that the decision eroded the authority of the provincial commander.

National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola appeared to back up the concerns. She recounted that, shortly after Sibiya’s June 2023 appointment as Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, he began pushing for control over several sensitive units.

• First, Sibiya demanded to take charge of the cold‑case unit, which traditionally reports directly to the national commissioner. Masemola called the request "unusual" and warned him to focus on his core crime‑detection duties.
• Second, he tried to strip Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo of counter‑intelligence dockets, insisting that detectives should handle them. Masemola argued those files are highly sensitive and should not be opened by any officer outside the intelligence chain.

Masemola summed up her advice with a vivid analogy: "You’ve just been handed an elephant to manage; you can’t be busy looking for a single hair on its tail." She noted that Sibiya was later suspended after being placed on leave, a move that raised eyebrows across the service.

Underlying Power Struggles

The commission’s inquiry is not just about one docket transfer; it’s probing deeper issues of political interference, corruption, and jurisdictional battles within SAPS. The PKTT was set up to tackle a wave of killings tied to local politics, and its work has been praised for uncovering links between crime syndicates and political actors.

When Sibiya removed the dockets, many investigators argued that vital evidence could be lost or delayed. Critics fear that shifting files to Pretoria makes it harder for provincial officers to follow leads, especially when local knowledge is crucial.

Van Rooyen’s testimony highlighted a broader worry: if senior officials can unilaterally reroute investigations, the chain of accountability breaks down. "Provincial commanders need to know what’s happening in their own jurisdictions," she said, warning that ignoring this principle could invite abuse of power.

Masemola’s remarks also shed light on an emerging culture of centralisation. By trying to bring the cold‑case and intelligence units under his thumb, Sibiya appeared to be reshaping the power balance inside SAPS. Some insiders suggest this reflects a wider push from the national leadership to tighten control over politically sensitive cases.

While the commission has not yet ruled on whether Sibiya’s actions were illegal, the testimonies suggest a pattern of overreach. The outcome could have lasting effects on how South Africa handles politically motivated crimes, and whether provincial police can retain real decision‑making power.

As the Madlanga Commission continues its work, the spotlight remains on the tension between national directives and provincial autonomy. The next hearings will likely explore whether other high‑ranking officers have engaged in similar dossier‑shuffling and what safeguards can be put in place to protect the integrity of investigations into political violence.